C150002 Approval letter - Laserfiche WebLink

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r- _ .. , e e e According to BOR's analysis, the installation of seven "check structures" in the canal, a set of automated gages and controls and a bypass pipeline3 will reduce the average annual diversion requirements of the Canal by approximately 17,500 acre-feet. BOR also estimates that an additional 11,000 acre-feet can be saved by the installation of a pump plant at the Highline Lake, so that supplies spilled at the lower, western end of the canal can be captured and returned to the system as soon as demand catches up with the available supplies. Together, these improvements are estimated to reduce the diversion requirements for the Canal by approximately 28,500 acre-feet annually. The Orchard Mesa Check settlement agreement, which was accepted by the water court October 1, 1996, provides a key component of this proposal, since it provides the mechanism for the BOR to retain much of the saved water and guidelines for declaring a surplus condition in Green Mountain Reservoir when the storage contents exceed an agreed upon "draw down curve." In exchange for this additional discretion in Green Mountain operations, the co-applicants in the case (the U.S., the Grand Valley Water Users Association and the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District) and the Grand Valley Irrigation Company have agreed to limit their call for water rights administration (i.e., not to exercise their power right during times of peak irrigation demand). To the extent that the Grand Valley Project's reliance upon Green Mountain Reservoir releases is reduced, larger and more frequent surplus storag~ conditions in Green Mountain Reservoir are anticipated. Under the settlement agreement, surplus supplies would be available for contract delivery to the Grand valley Power Plant or other non-consumptive industrial uses (and indirectly to improve flow conditions in the 15 Mile Reach). The Grand Valley Water Users Association has reviewed the proposed improvements to the Government Highline Canal and agreed to support and participate in the proposed project if it is assured that 1) the increased cost of operating and maintaining the canal will be paid for by the Recovery Program and 2) these improvements will enable the Recovery Program to provide an acceptable reasonable and prudent alternative for their depletions and for repairs to their diversion structure (which may be combined with plans to construct fish passage facilities in the next few years). The projected operation and maintenance cost is associated with the modern electronic communications and control equipment and with the pump plant at Highline Lake and is estimated by BOR at approximately $1.4 million (present value, based on operation, maintenance and periodic replacement of electronic components during the next 50 years). The Recovery Program is likely to use the proposed state funding to reimburse the GVWUA for these operation and maintenance expenses, but these details have not been presented for decision yet. However, my recommendation is based primarily upon considerations raised in the development of the long-term funding proposal for both this Recovery Program and the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program. In the discussions between DNR, the water users, the environmental interests, the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association, the states of New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming and the federal agencies, we have agreed that the states will probably need to contribute 3 The bypass pipeline would be installed between the canal and the river just east of Palisade so that unneeded supplies which may have been diverted from the river can be returned above the 15 Mile Reach. 3